The Garlick Press – Monday, April 5, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I joined with my colleagues on March 11 and voted in the affirmative on H. 73 An Act further providing for early voting by mail (click here for more details) which included a provision so that you may cast your ballot by mail, with no excuse needed.

I congratulate the Medfield residents who recently participated in their Town election. Now, the Needham and Dover elections are coming up:

Needham Town Election: April 13, from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM

No excuse absentee ballot deadline: Wednesday, April 7 at 5:00 PM by mail or Monday, April 12 at 12:00 PM in person*.

To access the application, click here.

*Voters in Needham have the option to case an absentee in person until Monday, April 12 at 12:00 PM. Print out and complete the application and go to Town Hall. Knock or ring at the front door to notify the monitor you are there to vote, then you will be admitted and given further instructions.

Dover Town Election: Monday, May 17, 2021 from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Vote-by-mail application deadline: Friday, May 14 at 12:00 PM.

To access the application, click here.

Applications for absentee ballots must be applied for from the Town Clerk before noon the day before an election.

Voting by mail continues to be a safe and secure way for Massachusetts residents to vote. if you prefer to vote in person, you can still vote at your polling place on Election Day.

For more election information visit:

Needham Town Clerk: https://www.needhamma.gov/77/Town-Clerk

Dover Town Clerk: https://www.doverma.gov/212/Town-Clerk

Yours in Service,

Denise

 

• In Needham, The League of Women Voters of Needham has assembled an online Gateway to the Needham Election that includes the Voter Guide of candidates for town-wide office and Town Meeting Member, recordings of candidate forums and interviews, voting information, and public service announcements. The League does not support or oppose candidates—it supports voters as they make informed voting decisions. To access the Gateway, click here.
• In Dover, the Annual Spring Cleanup is currently underway, which means your neighbors will be working to clean up our roadsides, parks, and green spaces. Please be cautious and look out for roadside clean-up signs. If you are interested in volunteering, you may sign up here.
• In Medfield, the Town is currently conducting a town-wide hydrant flushing until April 16. Work will be completed between 8:00 PM and 5:00 Am to minimize inconvenience however, some discoloration of water may occur during this process. In the event, the Town advises running the cold water tap until the water is clear. For more information, click here.

• In Needham,
  • the Select Board is meeting on Tuesday, April 6 at 6:00 PM via Zoom. The agenda for this meeting includes the Town of Needham Classification and Compensation Study. For the meeting information, click here.
  • the Domestic Violence Action Committee is meeting on Wednesday, April 7 at 9:00 AM via Zoom. The agenda for this meeting includes an an update on the ‘What so Say, What to Do?’ webinar. For the meeting information, click here.
• In Dover,
  • the Caryl Community Center Building Committee is meeting today, Monday April 5 at 6:00 PM via Zoom. The agenda for this meeting includes an update on the design and on the site plan. For the meeting information, click here.
  • the Park and Recreation Commission is meeting on Wednesday, April 7 at 6:30 PM via Zoom. The agenda for this meeting includes a discussion on the Special Town Meeting Article and upcoming programming. For the meeting information, click here.
• In Medfield,
  • the Board of Selectmen is meeting on Tuesday, April 6 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. The agenda for this meeting includes a discussion on the Water Treatment Plant Project. For the meeting information, click here.
  • the Council on Aging is meeting on Wednesday, April 7 at 10:00 AM via Zoom. The council will be discussing its plan to reopen and the reopening celebration. For the meeting information, click here.

• Starting today, individuals age 55+ and individuals with 1 certain medical condition are eligible to register for the COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule an appointment you may preregister for a Mass Vaccination site here and use Vax Finder to search for appointments at pharmacies, health care providers, and other community locations.
• Massachusetts has expanded the list of medical conditions that qualify an individual for the COVID-19 vaccine. The list now includes cystic fibrosis, dementia, type 1 diabetes, HIV infection, hypertension, all conditions resulting in a weakened immune system, liver disease, thalassemia, and substance use disorder. To view the entire list, click here.

• Massachusetts is currently in Phase 4, Step 1 of the Massachusetts reopening plan. Indoor and outdoor stadiums, areas, and ballparks will be permitted to operate at a 12% capacity limit. Additionally, gathering limits for event venues and public settings will increase to 100 people indoors and 150 people outdoors. Outdoor and indoor gatherings at private residences will remain at the same limit. Dance floors will be permitted at weddings and other event and overnight summer camps will be allowed to operate this coming summer. To learn more, click here.
• If you have questions, input, or comments regarding the Reopening Massachusetts plan, you can submit comments online. These comments can be used by the Administration to support efforts to methodically reopen the economy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for the form.

• If you are in need of resources, information, or support, please visit my website for a list of resources. Additionally, our local boards of health, the Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control are continuing to maintain websites with the most updated information regarding COVID-19 that you can access here:

• Needham Health Department Updates
• Medfield Updates
• Dover Updates
• Department of Public Health: Click here or Call 2-1-1.
• Reopening Massachusetts
• COVID-19 Travel Order
• Centers for Disease Control